Ohio § 2152.12
Full text of Ohio Ohio Revised Code § 2152.12, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 2152.12.
(A)(1)(a) After a complaint has been filed alleging that a child is a delinquent child for
committing one or more acts that would be an offense if committed by an adult, if
any of those acts would be aggravated murder, murder, attempted aggravated murder,
or attempted murder if committed by an adult, the juvenile court at a hearing shall
transfer the case if either of the following applies: (i) The child was sixteen or seventeen years of age at the time of the act charged that
would be aggravated murder, murder, attempted aggravated murder, or attempted murder
and there is probable cause to believe that the child committed the act charged. (ii) The child was fourteen or fifteen years of age at the time of the act charged that
would be aggravated murder, murder, attempted aggravated murder, or attempted murder, section 2152.10 of the Revised Code provides that the child is eligible for mandatory transfer, and there is probable
cause to believe that the child committed the act charged. (b) After a complaint has been filed alleging that a child is a delinquent child by reason
of committing one or more acts that would be an offense if committed by an adult,
if any of those acts is a category two offense, the juvenile court at a hearing shall
transfer the case if the child was sixteen or seventeen years of age at the time of
the act charged that is a category two offense and either of the following applies: (i) Division (A)(2)(a) of section 2152.10 of the Revised Code requires the mandatory transfer of the case, and there is probable cause to believe
that the child committed the act charged that is a category two offense. (ii) Division (A)(2)(b) of section 2152.10 of the Revised Code requires the mandatory transfer of the case, and there is probable cause to believe
that the child committed the act charged that is a category two offense. (2) The juvenile court also shall transfer a case in the circumstances described in division (C)(5) of section 2152.02 of the Revised Code or if either of the following applies: (a) A complaint is filed against a child who is eligible for a discretionary transfer
under section 2152.10 of the Revised Code and who previously was convicted of or pleaded guilty to a felony in a case that
was transferred to a criminal court. (b) A complaint is filed against a child who is domiciled in another state alleging that
the child is a delinquent child for committing an act that would be a felony if committed
by an adult, and, if the act charged had been committed in that other state, the child
would be subject to criminal prosecution as an adult under the law of that other state
without the need for a transfer of jurisdiction from a juvenile, family, or similar
noncriminal court to a criminal court. (3) If a complaint is filed against a child alleging that the child is a delinquent child
and the case is transferred pursuant to division (A)(1)(a)(i) or (A)(1)(b)(ii) of
this section and if the child subsequently is convicted of or pleads guilty to an
offense in that case, the sentence to be imposed or disposition to be made of the
child shall be determined in accordance with section 2152.121 of the Revised Code . (B) Except as provided in division (A) of this section, after a complaint has been filed
alleging that a child is a delinquent child by reason of committing one or more acts
that would be an offense if committed by an adult and if any of those acts would be
a felony if committed by an adult, the juvenile court at a hearing may transfer the
case if the court finds all of the following with respect to an act charged that would
be a felony: (1) The child was fourteen years of age or older at the time of the act charged. (2) There is probable cause to believe that the child committed the act charged. (3) The child is not amenable to care or rehabilitation within the juvenile system, and
the safety of the community may require that the child be subject to adult sanctions. In making its decision under this division, the court shall consider whether the
applicable factors under division (D) of this section indicating that the case should
be transferred outweigh the applicable factors under division (E) of this section
indicating that the case should not be transferred. The record shall indicate the specific factors that were applicable and that the
court weighed. (C) Before considering a transfer under division (B) of this section, the juvenile court
shall order an investigation into the child's social history, education, family situation,
and any other factor bearing on whether the child is amenable to juvenile rehabilitation,
including a mental examination of the child by a public or private agency or a person
qualified to make the examination. The investigation shall be completed and a report on the investigation shall be
submitted to the court as soon as possible but not more than forty-five calendar days
after the court orders the investigation. The court may grant one or more extensions for a reasonable length of time. The child may waive the examination required by this division if the court finds
that the waiver is competently and intelligently made. Refusal to submit to a mental examination by the child constitutes a waiver of the
examination. (D) In considering whether to transfer a child under division (B) of this section based
on an act charged that would be a felony if committed by an adult, the juvenile court
shall consider the following relevant factors, and any other relevant factors, in
favor of a transfer under that division: (1) The victim of the act charged suffered physical or psychological harm, or serious
economic harm, as a result of the alleged act. (2) The physical or psychological harm suffered by the victim due to the alleged act
of the child was exacerbated because of the physical or psychological vulnerability
or the age of the victim. (3) The child's relationship with the victim facilitated the act charged. (4) The child allegedly committed the act charged for hire or as a part of a gang or
other organized criminal activity. (5) The child had a firearm on or about the child's person or under the child's control
at the time of the act charged, the act charged is not a violation of section 2923.12 of the Revised Code , and the child, during the commission of the act charged, allegedly used or displayed
the firearm, brandished the firearm, or indicated that the child possessed a firearm. (6) At the time of the act charged, the child was awaiting adjudication or disposition
as a delinquent child, was under a community control sanction, or was on parole for
a prior delinquent child adjudication or conviction. (7) The results of any previous juvenile sanctions and programs indicate that rehabilitation
of the child will not occur in the juvenile system. (8) The child is emotionally, physically, or psychologically mature enough for the transfer. (9) There is not sufficient time to rehabilitate the child within the juvenile system. (E) In considering whether to transfer a child under division (B) of this section based
on an act charged that would be a felony if committed by an adult, the juvenile court
shall consider the following relevant factors, and any other relevant factors, against
a transfer under that division: (1) The victim induced or facilitated the act charged. (2) The child acted under provocation in allegedly committing the act charged. (3) The child was not the principal actor in the act charged, or, at the time of the
act charged, the child was under the negative influence or coercion of another person. (4) The child did not cause physical harm to any person or property, or have reasonable
cause to believe that harm of that nature would occur, in allegedly committing the
act charged. (5) The child previously has not been adjudicated a delinquent child. (6) The child is not emotionally, physically, or psychologically mature enough for the
transfer. (7) The child has a mental illness or intellectual disability. (8) There is sufficient time to rehabilitate the child within the juvenile system and
the level of security available in the juvenile system provides a reasonable assurance
of public safety. (F) If one or more complaints are filed alleging that a child is a delinquent child for
committing two or more acts that would be offenses if committed by an adult, if a
motion is made alleging that division (A) of this section applies and requires that
the case or cases involving one or more of the acts charged be transferred, and if
a motion also is made requesting that the case or cases involving one or more of the
acts charged be transferred pursuant to division (B) of this section, the juvenile
court, in deciding the motions, shall proceed in the following manner: (1) Initially, the court shall decide the motion alleging that division (A) of this section
applies and requires that the case or cases involving one or more of the acts charged
be transferred. (2) If the court determines that division (A) of this section applies and requires that
the case or cases involving one or more of the acts charged be transferred, the court
shall transfer the case or cases in accordance with that division, and that transfer
also automatically requires the transfer of the case or cases for which the transfer
request was made under division (B) of this section without any action taken or finding
made under that division, provided that as described in section 2152.022 of the Revised Code no count shall be transferred with the case unless the court finds probable cause
to believe that the child committed the act charged in the count. Notwithstanding division (B) of this section, prior to transferring a case pursuant
to division (A) of this section, the court is not required to consider any factor
specified in division (D) or (E) of this section or to conduct an investigation under
division (C) of this section. (3) If the court determines that division (A) of this section does not require that the
case or cases involving one or more of the acts charged be transferred, the court
shall decide in accordance with division (B) of this section whether to grant the
motion requesting that the case or cases involving one or more of the acts charged
be transferred pursuant to that division. (4) No report on an investigation conducted pursuant to division (C) of this section
shall include details of the alleged offense as reported by the child. (G) The court shall give notice in writing of the time, place, and purpose of any hearing
held pursuant to division (A) or (B) of this section to the child's parents, guardian,
or other custodian and to the child's counsel at least three days prior to the hearing. (H) No person, either before or after reaching eighteen years of age, shall be prosecuted
as an adult for an offense committed prior to becoming eighteen years of age, unless
the person has been transferred as provided in division (A) or (B) of this section
or unless division (J) of this section applies. Any prosecution that is had in a criminal court on the mistaken belief that the
person who is the subject of the case was eighteen years of age or older at the time
of the commission of the offense shall be deemed a nullity, and the person shall not
be considered to have been in jeopardy on the offense. (I)(1) Section 2152.022 of the Revised Code applies with respect to the transfer of a case made under division (A)(1) or (B)
of this section. Section 2152.022 of the Revised Code applies with respect to the transfer of a case made under division (A)(2) of this
section in the same manner as if the transfer was made under division (A)(1) of this
section. (2) Upon the transfer of a case under division (A) or (B) of this section, the juvenile
court shall state the reasons for the transfer on the record, and shall order the
child to enter into a recognizance with good and sufficient surety for the child's
appearance before the appropriate court for any disposition that the court is authorized
to make for a similar act committed by an adult. Except as otherwise provided in division (B) of section 2152.022 of the Revised Code , all of the following apply with respect to the transfer: (a) The transfer abates the jurisdiction of the juvenile court with respect to the delinquent
acts alleged in the complaint in the case; (b) Upon the transfer, all further proceedings pertaining to the acts charged in the
complaint in the case shall be discontinued in the juvenile court; (c) Upon the transfer, the case then shall be within the jurisdiction of the court to
which it is transferred as described in division (H) of section 2151.23 of the Revised Code . (J) If a person under eighteen years of age allegedly commits an act that would be a
felony if committed by an adult and if the person is not taken into custody or apprehended
for that act until after the person attains twenty-one years of age, the juvenile
court does not have jurisdiction to hear or determine that act, any other charge included
in the case charging the person with committing that act, or any portion of that case. In those circumstances, divisions (A) and (B) of this section do not apply regarding
the act, and the case that includes the charge that the person committed the act,
and all other charges in the case, shall be a criminal prosecution commenced and heard
in the appropriate court having jurisdiction of the offense as if the person had been
eighteen years of age or older when the person committed the act. All proceedings pertaining to the acts charged in the case shall be within the jurisdiction
of the court having jurisdiction of the offense, and that court has all the authority
and duties in the case as it has in other criminal cases in that court.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ohio § 2152.12
What does Ohio Revised Code § 2152.12 cover?
Section 2152.12 is part of the Ohio Revised Code, the codified statutory law of Ohio. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.
How do I cite Ohio § 2152.12?
A common citation format is "Ohio Revised Code § 2152.12" (Ohio). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.
Is this the official text of Ohio law?
No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Ohio official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Ohio attorney.
How does Ohio § 2152.12 apply to my situation?
Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Ohio can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.
Sources & Verification
Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in Ohio.